grow

[ groh ]

/ groʊ /

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verb (used without object), grew, grown, grow·ing.

to increase by natural development, as any living organism or part by assimilation of nutriment; increase in size or substance.

to form and increase in size by a process of inorganic accretion, as by crystallization.

to arise or issue as a natural development from an original happening, circumstance, or source: Our friendship grew from common interests.

to increase gradually in size, amount, etc.; become greater or larger; expand: His influence has grown.

to become gradually attached or united by or as if by growth: The branches of the trees grew together, forming a natural arch.

to come to be by degrees; become: to grow old.

Nautical. to lie or extend in a certain direction, as an anchor cable.

verb (used with object), grew, grown, grow·ing.

to cause to grow: They grow corn.

to allow to grow: to grow a beard.

to cover with a growth (used in the passive): a field grown with corn.

Verb Phrases

grow into,

to become large enough for: He'll grow into his brother's suits before long.
to become mature or experienced enough for: She grew into the job, although she wasn't qualified for it at first.

grow on/upon,

to increase in influence or effect: An uneasy feeling grew upon him as he went through the old house.
to become gradually more liked or accepted by: a village by the sea that grows on one.

grow out of,

to become too large or mature for; outgrow: He has grown out of all his clothes.
to originate in; develop from: The plan grew out of a casual conversation.

grow up,

to be or become fully grown; attain mental or physical maturity.
to come into existence; arise: New cities grew up in the desert.

Nearby words

grove, sir george, grovel, grover, groves, grovet, grow, grow bag, grow into, grow light, grow on, grow out of

Idioms

grow a pair, Slang: Vulgar. pair¹(def 23).

Origin of grow

before 900; Middle English growen, Old English grōwan; cognate with Dutch groeien, Old High German grouwan, Old Norse grōa

SYNONYMS FOR grow

1 develop, multiply, swell, enlarge, expand, extend.

3 originate.

4 wax.

8 raise, cultivate, produce.

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ANTONYMS FOR grow

1 decrease.

4 wane.

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Related formsgrow·a·ble, adjectivere·grow, verb, re·grew, re·grown, re·grow·ing.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for grow up (1 of 2)

grow up

verb (intr, adverb)

to reach maturity; become adult

to come into existence; develop

British Dictionary definitions for grow up (2 of 2)

grow

/ (ɡrəʊ) /

verb grows, growing, grew (ɡruː) or grown (ɡrəʊn)

(of an organism or part of an organism) to increase in size or develop (hair, leaves, or other structures)

(intr; usually foll by out of or from) to originate, as from an initial cause or sourcethe federation grew out of the Empire

(intr) to increase in size, number, degree, etcthe population is growing rapidly

(intr) to change in length or amount in a specified directionsome plants grow downwards; profits over the years grew downwards

(copula; may take an infinitive) (esp of emotions, physical states, etc) to develop or come into existence or being graduallyto grow cold; to grow morose; he grew to like her

(intr usually foll by up) to come into existencea close friendship grew up between them

(intr foll by together) to be joined gradually by or as by growththe branches on the tree grew together

(intr; foll by away, together, etc) to develop a specified state of friendshipthe lovers grew together gradually; many friends grow apart over the years

(when intr, foll by with) to become covered with a growththe path grew with weeds

to produce (plants) by controlling or encouraging their growth, esp for home consumption or on a commercial basis

See also grow into, grow on, grow out of, grow up

Word Origin for grow

Old English grōwan; related to Old Norse grōa, Old Frisian grōia, Old High German gruoen; see green, grass

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for grow up (1 of 2)

grow up

"advance toward maturity," 1530s, from grow (v.) + up (adv.). As a command to be sensible, from 1951. Grown-up (adj.) "mature" is from late 14c.; the noun meaning "adult person" is from 1813.

Word Origin and History for grow up (1 of 2)

grow

Old English growan (of plants) "to grow, flourish, increase, develop, get bigger" (class VII strong verb; past tense greow, past participle growen), from Proto-Germanic *gro- (cf. Old Norse groa, Old Frisian groia, Dutch groeien, Old High German gruoen), from PIE root *ghre- (see grass). Applied in Middle English to human beings (c.1300) and animals (early 15c.) and their parts, supplanting Old English weaxan (see wax (v.)).

Have you ever heard anything about God, Topsy? ... Do you know who made you?" "Nobody, as I knows on," said the child. ... "I spect I grow'd. Don't think nobody never made me." [Harriet B. Stowe, "Uncle Tom's Cabin," 1851]

Medicine definitions for grow up

grow

[ grō ]

v.

To increase in size by a natural process.

To develop and reach maturity.

To be capable of growth; thrive.

Idioms and Phrases with grow up (1 of 2)

grow up

Become an adult, as in Sam wants to be a policeman when he grows up. [First half of 1500s]

Come into existence, arise, as in Similar social problems grew up in all the big cities. [Late 1500s]

Become mature or sensible, as in It's time you grew up and faced the facts. This usage may also be in the form of an imperative (as in Don't bite your nails—grow up!) [Mid-1900s]

Idioms and Phrases with grow up (2 of 2)

grow

In addition to the idioms beginning with grow

growing pains
grow into
grow on
grow out of
grow up

also see:

absence makes the heart grow fonder
let the grass grow under one's feet

grow

verb (used without object), grew, grown, grow·ing.

verb (used with object), grew, grown, grow·ing.

Verb Phrases

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RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Idioms

Origin of grow

British Dictionary definitions for grow up (1 of 2)

grow up

verb (intr, adverb)

British Dictionary definitions for grow up (2 of 2)

grow

verb grows, growing, grew (ɡruː) or grown (ɡrəʊn)

Word Origin for grow

Word Origin and History for grow up (1 of 2)

grow up

Word Origin and History for grow up (1 of 2)

grow

Medicine definitions for grow up

grow

v.

Idioms and Phrases with grow up (1 of 2)

grow up

Idioms and Phrases with grow up (2 of 2)

grow